Match ends, Brentford 3, Swansea City 1.
BrentfordBrentford3SwanseaSwansea City1
Brentford are up to third in the Championship with a fifth successive victory at Griffin Park as Ollie Watkins' brace gave them victory over Swansea City.
Midway through the first half a Brentford corner was headed back across the box by Ethan Pinnock and Bryan Mbeumo was on hand to nod in the opener.
Just five minutes later Brentford doubled their lead, Watkins stretching out a leg to meet Rico Henry's cross to divert the ball past Freddy Woodman.
Andre Ayew pulled one back for the Swans with 25 minutes remaining, after David Raya only parried Bersant Celina's initial effort into the path of the Ghanaian.
Despite pressure from Swansea it was Brentford who scored late on, Watkins beating the offside trap and finishing into the bottom corner with just Woodman to beat.
Brentford came into Thursday's game having won their last four matches at Griffin Park, and they started like the team in form.
Watkins curled a couple of early efforts wide of the far post before Mbeumo broke the deadlock, heading past Woodman to score in his four successive home game.
Moments later Said Benrahma sent Henry clear down the left, who delivered a perfectly weighted cross to Watkins for a deserved goal.
Swansea midfielder George Byers helped change the flow of the game as half-time approached, and was unlucky to see two efforts blocked first by Josh Dasilva and then Pontus Jansson.
The Swans began to pile on the pressure as the second half progressed and got their rewards when Ayew reacted quickest to Raya's save to poke the ball home.
Steve Cooper's side launched wave after wave of attacks as they went in search of an equaliser, but the Bees continued to look dangerous on the break.
And it was on the counter-attack that the Bees sealed victory, as Watkins raced clear and finished confidently past Woodman.
Victory was Brentford's first at home against Swansea since Boxing Day in 2005, as the Swans lost a fourth consecutive match on 26 December.
Swansea City manager Steve Cooper said: "First half we were short, we didn't do the basics right, and in the end we gave away two soft goals and we gave ourselves an uphill challenge.
"They are a good team, take nothing away from them, but I think we gave them too much respect. For all their play they didn't create loads of shooting opportunities other than the goals.
"If you don't do the basics right you won't win any game, we try and play well and with discipline but we also try to defend well and today we didn't."
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 22Dalsgaard
- 18Jansson
- 5Pinnock
- 3Henry
- 8JensenSubstituted forNørgaardat 77'minutes
- 12Mokotjo
- 14Dasilva
- 19MbeumoSubstituted forValencia Castilloat 72'minutes
- 11Watkins
- 10BenrahmaSubstituted forZamburekat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Thompson
- 6Nørgaard
- 16Valencia Castillo
- 23Jeanvier
- 28Daniels
- 31Zamburek
- 35Rasmussen
Swansea
Formation 4-3-3
- 27Woodman
- 23Roberts
- 44Cabango
- 20WilmotBooked at 71mins
- 24Bidwell
- 28ByersSubstituted forMcKayat 86'minutes
- 8GrimesBooked at 74mins
- 14CarrollSubstituted forKaluluat 63'minutes
- 22A Ayew
- 19SurridgeSubstituted forBastónat 63'minutes
- 10Celina
Substitutes
- 1Nordfeldt
- 6Fulton
- 7McKay
- 9Bastón
- 15Routledge
- 18Kalulu
- 26Naughton
- Referee:
- Andy Woolmer
- Attendance:
- 11,848
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamSwansea
- Possession
- Home53%
- Away47%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 3, Swansea City 1.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Barrie McKay (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Connor Roberts.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Aldo Kalulu (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Borja Bastón.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ollie Watkins (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Dasilva.
Post update
Josh Dasilva (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aldo Kalulu (Swansea City).
Goal!
Goal! Brentford 3, Swansea City 1. Ollie Watkins (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Josh Dasilva following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt missed. César Joel Valencia Castillo (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. César Joel Valencia Castillo (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Raya Martin with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Swansea City. Barrie McKay replaces George Byers.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jan Zamburek (Brentford) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by Josh Dasilva.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Jan Zamburek replaces Saïd Benrahma.
Post update
César Joel Valencia Castillo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aldo Kalulu (Swansea City).
Post update
Attempt blocked. Saïd Benrahma (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Josh Dasilva.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Bersant Celina (Swansea City) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Grimes.
Post update
Attempt missed. Saïd Benrahma (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kamohelo Mokotjo.
Post update
Josh Dasilva (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Matt Grimes (Swansea City).
